HomeMy Public PortalAbout09-15-2020_work session minutesMedina City Council Special Meeting Minutes 1
September 15, 2020
MEDINA CITY COUNCIL WORK SESSION MEETING MINUTES OF
SEPTEMBER 15, 2020
The City Council of Medina, Minnesota met in work session on September 15, 2020 at
5:30 p.m. at the Medina City Hall, 2052 County Road 24, Medina, MN.
I. Call to Order
Members present: Martin, Anderson, Albers, DesLauriers, Pederson
Members absent:
Also present: City Administrator Scott Johnson, Assistant City Administrator
Jodi Gallup, Public Works Director Steve Scherer, Finance Director Erin Barnhart, Public
Safety Director Jason Nelson, and Planning Director Dusty Finke
II. Draft Comprehensive Fire Service Study Discussion
Robert Finn from Matrix Consulting Group provided a presentation to the City Council
on the draft preliminary Comprehensive Fire Service Study for the City of Medina. Mr.
Finn discussed the need for a future fire station, pursuing a joint powers agreement with
surrounding cities for fire services (while maintaining fire service contracts and mutual
aid in the interim). Mr. Finn was directed to evaluate Hamel Fire Department’s
equipment to put together percentage ownership of equipment and what is needed in the
future. Mr. Finn did not recommend municipal ownership of the Hamel Fire Department.
He did recommend constructing a future fire station in the northern portion of Medina
and purchasing the remaining percentage ownership of equipment from the Hamel Fire
Department if needed. Finally, Mr. Finn recommended Medina move forward with a
joint powers agreement with neighboring cities for fire services.
Council shared concerns with building a new station during uncertain economic times,
encouraged moving forward with a joint powers agreement for fire services, directed
Matrix to provide a service delivery map, asked Matrix to look at overlapping equipment
within the fire departments, and provide a Loretto and Long Lake service mapping
scenario. Mr. Finn agreed to clean up the language “create a level playground” and
provide the additional information.
Mr. Finn encouraged Medina to request fair ownership rights for capital assets in
contracts, informed Council about the growing trend of using a quick response vehicle for
medical calls, agreed to put together a rolling stock page for the joint powers district
area, and explained that cost savings and efficiencies would be realized over time in a
joint powers district scenario. Normal attrition over time would allow for personnel
changes. He will add information to the study on these topic areas.
Council discussed growth areas and impacts on service delivery, emergency service
dynamics and how to set community response standards, impact of longer driveways on
fire services, and possible impacts on CAD data for 2020 (only half year of data).
Medina City Council Special Meeting Minutes 2
September 15, 2020
Mr. Finn reviewed the municipal fire option with Council. He did not recommend this
option because: 1) The station location requires contracting with other fire service
providers, 2) Would require more municipal employees for human resources and other
compliance, 3) The current station is not serviceable, 4) Purchasing the fire department
would do nothing to improve the current state of fire services in Medina and would cost
more long-term. Medina would also take on the future and ongoing costs of the Hamel
Fire Department retirement liability.
Mr. Finn recommended a joint powers agreement and/or a future fire services taxing
jurisdiction for Medina. This would allow regional sharing of resources/cost sharing, a
board of elected officials, solid financial partners (surrounding cities) and enhance
service delivery for the region. Council directed Mr. Finn to provide a table showing the
total costs of a joint powers agreement over a 3 to 5-year period. Council also discussed
metrics with Mr. Finn to help inform the public about the benefits of a joint powers
agreement and a general timeline for implementation. Council also discussed Hamel Fire
Department assets and thoughts were shared on if Medina needed to pursue those assets.
Council supported moving forward with discussions on a joint powers agreement for fire
services.
Staff will work with Robert Finn to complete the report and bring it back to the City
Council.
Adjourn
Anderson made a motion to adjourn the meeting at 7:00 p.m. Albers seconded the
motion.
Pederson Aye
Anderson Aye
DesLauriers Aye
Albers Aye
Martin Aye
_________________________
Kathleen Martin, Mayor
Attest:
____________________________
Jodi M. Gallup, City Clerk